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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Estrildidae
  4. ›
  5. Neochmia
  6. ›
  7. Crimson Finch

BirdUp · Species

Crimson Finch

Neochmia phaeton(Hombron & Jacquinot, 1841)

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Native
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Estrildidae
Genus
Neochmia

At a glance

The Crimson Finch is a tiny bird, about 12–14 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
12–14 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Crimson Finch look like?

The Crimson Finch is a tiny bird, about 12–14 cm long and weighing 7–12 g.

The crimson finch is a species of bird in the family Estrildidae. It is found throughout Northern Australia as well as parts of southern New Guinea. Crimson finches feature a distinctively bright crimson coat and are known for their aggression.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
12–14 cm
Weight
7–11.5 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Crimson Finch?

The Crimson Finch is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Suzanne Muzic · Bartle Frere, QLD, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Crimson Finch eat?

The Crimson Finch feeds on seeds and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks.

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Crimson Finch live in Australia?

The Crimson Finch is native to Australia, recorded across 27 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingSouth-central New Guinea and north Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Vagrant
  • Resident

7 regions recorded